Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month celebrates one culture, many races

Virginia Tech celebrates Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, which runs through Oct. 15. Activities and events related to this theme and Hispanic-Latino culture are scheduled throughout the month.

The theme for the celebration is “One culture, many races.” The university’s Leadership Development Office, the Department of Student Activities, and Multicultural Programs and Services are sponsors.

Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month is an annual cultural celebration at Virginia Tech. The purpose of the celebration is to acknowledge the presence of Hispanic-Latino people and communities; provide an opportunity through which all Virginia Tech community members can celebrate the contributions of the Hispanic-Latino community and examine critical issues; and facilitate increased cultural awareness and respect.

The second week of Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month will end with the month’s featured event, Tres Vidas, on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Haymarket Theatre in the Squires Student Center.

Tres Vidas celebrates the life, times, and work of three significant Latin and South American Women: painter Frida Kahlo of Mexico, peasant activist Rufina Amaya of El Salvador, and poet Alfonsina Storni of Argentina. Tres Vidas is a chamber music theatre work conceived and performed by the Core Ensemble (cello, piano, and percussion) and featuring Desiree Rodriquez as Kahlo, Amaya, and Storni.

The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Academic Support Services, Multicultural Programs and Services, Office for Equity and Inclusion, Office of Graduate Recruitment and Diversity Initiatives, Women’s Center, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and the Latino Association of Student Organizations.

Other events include

• Calle Sol: Medellin 2007-2008 portrait exhibition in the second floor atrium of the Squires Student Center, sponsored by the Latin American and Iberian Graduate Students Association and Multicultural Programs and Services Sept. 15 through Sept. 25;
• Where do I fit?, a stereotype documentary, in room 217 of the Squires Student Center on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8:30 p.m., sponsored by Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc.; and
• Son Sabroso Live presented by SalsaTech at 10 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Abella’s Café in downtown Blacksburg (cost is $5 for this event).

In addition to these major events, the celebration will include food festivals, a film series, discussions, speakers, workshops, and much more. For a full list of Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month activities, visit the Multicultural Programs website or call Kristen Houston at (540) 231-8584. Activities and events are free unless otherwise noted.

For events after 5 p.m. in Squires Student Center, free parking is available in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, or the Shultz Hall Lot, located off Alumni Drive near the North Main Street campus entrance. Find more parking information online or call (540) 231-3200.